Air flush system

ABSTRACT

A system and apparatus for reducing the amount of water required for flushing toilets. The system flushes a toilet containing a small amount of water in the bowl with air forced into the bowl from a special airtight lid and a vent in either this lid or in the toilet bowl area. While holding down the airtight lid, injected air from an air pressure device connected to the vent flushes the toilet, using minimal water as compared with conventional toilets. Afterwards water is added to the toilet bowl to reseal the trap and ready the toilet for the next use. By allowing this same air pressure device to produce suction as well as air flush, it will also function as a dry plunger in the event of a blockage and because this system uses air rather then water for flushing the swear pipe is predominately filled with air preventing freezing of pipes. It also will give a long flush capacity for those systems that enter a cesspool or septic tank.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The air flush system is directed towards being an accessory for existing toilets as well as being a new complete system for reducing the amount of water required for flushing a toilet. It also provides a stronger flushing ability, compared with current competitors. By injecting a predetermined amount of compressed air into the toilet bowl area, the toilet will flush, using far less water than a conventional toilet. And can leave the conventional water capability of the toilet operational. This system, which can be as inexpensive as buying a new seat for the toilet will save it cost in water in a short period of time. Air flush system is also far safer then the vacuum toilet system that have sucked a person's arm in and the cost of a vacuum toilet system is enormous compared to this air flush system and the maintenance to a vacuum system is potential as enormous as its initial instillation cost.

Air flushing is achieved by the use of an airtight seat and lid unit and a vent hole so as to inject air into the bowl area. Then air pressure can be vented into the toilets airtight bowl area. The mechanism least obtrusive to the normal functioning of the toilet uses what is called an “independent lid” that will be placed under the conventional seat after the toilet has been soiled and is ready to be air flushed. The seat will be closed down over the lid with an air pressure device coming through the hole in the seat then the seat is pressed down thereby pushing the independent lid against the bowl rim to assure air tightness, compressed air is vented into the bowl area by a hole in the cover. Then by way of a vent hole in the lid a predetermine amount of air is injected into the toilet bowl area there by air flushing the toilet. Another more permanent option to the independent lid is modified conventional seat and lid unit meaning having gaskets and a vent hole

This modified now an air flush seat lid unit will be is attached to the toilet to become part of it. And air flush mechanism will virtually be undetectable as it will have a lid over it that conforms lid it is mounted on making it convenient to use and in most cases, the flush is so powerful that in the flapper valve in style toilets the flapper well needed to be weighted down by a bag of coins or such and this weight will also make it possible to use the flush leaver as a water control and a flush would only occur when the lever is held down. And the toilets which don't have tanks are virtually pre made to be converted into air flush toilets.

These aforementioned minimally obtrusive designs work perfectly well and offer the advantage of leaving available the normal water-flushing function of the toilet. If water is available there are many ways of have the clean water run while the air flush is taking place this will help to clean the bowl walls and add disinfectant to the bowl area water.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION AND OBJECTS

The air flush system works on existing toilets as an accessory. It also works on toilets that don't have water-tanks or water supplies, Therefore, locations currently using outside latrines can use the system and in many cases, can now have an air flush system toilet installed inside the house because the system is so powerful that a good safety distance can be achieved between the cesspool and the house. This will help put an end to cholera and many other types of epidemics that are directly a result of lack of latrine management. Said crisis can be averted by the system set forth herein.

Therefore, a special toilet has been designed that will initially be an inner-liner and after installed in a location can be reinforced with concrete. This site toilet will eliminate the need for a hard floor as the weight and large base will make it stable, and this site toilet will also give the opportunity for the sewer pipe fitting to come out the back or side making it easier to give the pipe a downward angle of flow. This advantage of having the sewer pipe being able to be above ground is facilitated by the sewage pipe being filled mostly with air rather then water so the pipe is freeze-proof especially in comparison to the fragile plaster toilet. Also, by having the sewer pipe exit out the back rather than the bottom of the toilet, the system will eliminate a hard right angle from the journey and if the toilet is placed on a pedestal like blocks or in a built up dirt box then the downward slope is increased, diminishing the amount of wash water even further.

In the past, in cold climates the sewer pipes must be buried under the frost line. But with air flush system, the pipe can run above ground saving untold maintenance and installation cost. When the temperature is below freezing and the toilet in not in use there is only a minimum amount of water left in the trap area and it is not threatened by the freezing. As there will be a flexible coupling between the site toilet and the sewer pipe, it will make it possible to have the pipe descend to the cesspool on an incline. This flexibility will also make it possible to change the location of the cesspool by just moving the pipe direction.

This air flush system is further directed for use within the confines of relatively compact units, such as multiple expeditionary lavatories on planes, boats and trains. Air flush will also solve the problem of low septic-tank capacity, as it has been the large volume of water from water flushing that has been the major part of the overflow problem.

With air flush, the primary part of the waste is simply air, thereby reducing the waste storage capacity problem by as much as 80 percent. Therefore, the system would require much smaller septic tanks and by eliminating the tank section from the toilet, it would save up to 50 percent on the purchasing cost and shipping cost of individual toilets. In addition, if the site toilet inner-liner is used the savings can reach up to 95 percent and the fact that porcelain toilets shatter in shipping, it creates a need for this site toilet liner concept.

An alternative to replacing or modifying the attached seat lid unit would be an independent lid which is very mobile because it is not attached to the toilet. It is only placed over the toilet bowl rim when the attached seat and lid are in the up position.

FIRST EMBODIMENTS

A round accordion bellows eight inches in diameter and 12 inches long is a good multipurpose air pressure device that can easily be mounted on the air flush lid with a vent hole passing through, so it can inject a predetermined burst of air, thereby air flushing the toilet. The bellows can have valves with both intakes on the top and the big exhaust hole to the blow area can also be exited valve so as to pump air for an automatic double flush capability. Or it can not have any valves so it can have a sucking ability that will help it make a really strong flush by starting with the bellows being about halfway inflated before pressing down the lid airtight to the bowl rim. Then by pulling up the bellow's handle the water in the toilet's trap will be brought up into the bowl, immediately pressing down the bellows to easily flush with no resistance from water in the trap. In fact, the air in the trap will have a small vacuum so as to suck the waste out. And if a double air flush is needed then just lifting the lid a crack can let in air.

This sucking ability also enables the bellows to be used as a “dry plunger” by pulling up and pushing down on the handle it will shake a blockage free and on an independent lid extra control can be achieved by closing the seat section over the bellows, which will go through the seat's center sitting hole and then the seat can be used to hold the bellows down while plunging. This eliminates the threat of bacterial contamination from fecal matter in a toilet area that results when using instruments such as a submergible plunger or snake

Furthermore, this bellows will also function as an “air-pressure-gauge” as it can measure the flow aspect of the sewer pipe. Gauging the resistance of the flushing stroke by noticing if it gets harder to press down and if the bellows starts to pressurize more the usual can indicate to a user that the swear-pipe may have a blockage starting to materialize. Then a preemptive clearing can be performed by water flushing the toilet or even adding drain-cleaner.

If a blockage occurs that is too concentrated for the bellows to blow through then there are better air pressure devices for plunging, such as the cylinder with piston model or the diaphragm model, both of which have professional power abilities to open deep pipe blockages. With these more powerful drain busters a gauge will be mounted on the lid that will have a fitting for a more accurate calculation.

Because the accordion bellows is collapsible, it is appropriate for permanent mounting on the attached seat and lid unit. Its ability to become flat makes it possible for the lid with the bellows mounted on it to be put into the up position. This flatness feature also makes the bellows the most cost efficient for storage and shipping. Another advantage is its extremely lightweight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional objects and advantages of the Air Flush system will appear from the following description and parts list in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The most important part in the air flush system is that it is a modification of preexisting toilet facilities as (FIG. 3-7) show that there is little or even no changes to the toilet itself to make it an air flush system. What is simply needed is to make the toilet bowl area (28 a) airtight which is done by using one of several of special air flush seat and lid models all of which have gaskets around their bottom edge and are pushing down against the toilet bowl rim (28) to close them airtight during air flushing.

One such lid is called “the vented independent lid” (See FIG. 1, Assembly #24). Another lid is “the vented air flush seat and lid” (See FIG. 2, Assembly #26) both of these lids have either vented to them or mounted on them an air pressure device (22) which is called mounted model. This mounted air device (22) seat and lid unit (FIG. 2, Assembly #26) will be connected in the toilet in the conventional way with nylon nuts and bolts (26 h) and if the seat lid unit does not have a cover (26 d) the conventional double arm hinges can be used. However if an air device cover is to be used the hinge will have to be modified (Sheet 4, FIG. 7A) to accommodate another hinge arm (26 i). In order to attach the new hinge arm first a pin shaft (26 g) must be added so the arm can affix to it and then the arm will be connected to the air device cover (26 d). This cover will well facilitate the pumping of via a mounted handle (26 e) affixed to it and the hinges will guide the path of the pumping motion on the air pressure device. This cover will also protect the air device or ventilation coupling (SHEET 9, FIGS. 14 a and b) also a completely new kind of seat lid unit can be made that will have the seat part made of a gasket material so that no gaskets are needed as the seat itself will be both the gasket between the bowl rim and the lid.

Beside the independent lid and the mounted air device seat and lid units there is another model air flush seat lid unit (See FIG. 5A, #30) which is simply a conventional seat and lid unit with conventional hinges. It also will have gaskets (30 a-30 c) under the seat and lid to make them airtight so the toilet can air flush when air pressure is injected into the bowl area through the water tank (38 b) connecting and venting hole (40) with or without the tank section. This connection is accomplished using a two hole stopper plug (58 b,c) with a water line coming in and an anti-siphon valve (58 e) this anti-siphon valve can rather be installed in the electric solenoid if in use (FIG. 8, #48 a). And if the toilet's water tank is used there can be a stopper the size if the flapper socket and the water line will go to it inside the tank (FIGS. 5A and B, #58)

Both these seat and lid units (26) will come in two distinct sizes—not interchangeable. However the air flush independent lid (24) will accommodated both size toilet seats by having an extra large gasket (24 a) that wraps around its bottom surface edge that comes in contact with either size toilet bowl rim (28) and will work with a unmodified conventional seat including the horseshoe type with open front (FIG. 4).

During air flushing with all three-lid models (24, 26, 30) the lid must be pushed down onto the bowl rim (28 a) so the bowl area (28) is airtight. Then compressed air can be injected, causing the toilet to air flush. There are many kinds of air pressure devices (SHEET 6,7,8,) all of them must be vented into the bowl area so to air flush the toilet. This accordion style bellows (22) shown here (FIG. 1-7) is the cylindrical type. This bellows as many of the other air pressure devices can be mounted on the independent lid (24) and the mounted air device seat lid unit (26) as being the least obtrusive way of using air flush on a conventional toilet as no changes what so ever are needed to the toilet. This independent lid will go under the seat and its air pressure device seen in (FIG. 4) with the cylindrical bellow (22) mounted on it will go through the seat hole. Therefore, a handle (22 a) is needed to mount on top of the bellows.

For both the independent lid (FIG. 1) and the attached seat/lid unit (FIG. 2) there must be a vent (36), which is in the range of four inches that passes through into the bowl area. In order for the toilet to air flush there must be the usual amount of water in the bowl area (28) for the air to flush. Neither the independent lid nor the modified attached seat and lid unit will affect the water flushing operation of the toilet. the independent lid (24) and the air pressure mounted device lid (26) are strong flushers because their air resistance is minimal.

Another model air flush lid (30) is a conventional toilet seat and lid unit which has been modified air tight with the same kinds of gaskets (30 a and b) but the lid does not have an air-pressure device mounted on it or even a ventilation hole going through it. Instead, it works with conventional toilets that have been modified to have air pressure devices connected to their toilets bowls' flush hole s (FIGS. 5 and 5A #40) or to the toilet tanks' flush holes (FIGS. 6 and 6A #40 a) As with all air flush lids, they offer the big water-saving advantage over the normal water flush as they are able to still flush with water added directly into the toilet bowl area. Therefore, they will work with used wash and rainwater for complete water savings and conservation of our water resources.

There is a way of adding water during the air flushing the easiest is to use a metered flapper vale (52) which consists of flapper with a hole in its float area and a chain coming from it and on the chain is a float (52 b) which will give control of the amount of water when the flush lever (53 f) pressed and released this will only release just the amount of water to air flushing so water will be going into the toilet as the air flush occurs this will let enough water in to wash the toilet wall and refill the bowl for the next usage. The metered flapper is made so if the water release lever (52 f) is held down the toilet will release water into the bowl and flush it with water, this will also enable the toilet to be used in the conventional water flush way. And the conventional hydro switch used on toilet without water tank can be adjusted to give the right amount of water to add and clean an air flush.

A more elaborate way to have water running during air flushing is seen in (FIG. 6A) that the toilet can he sending water down the over flow tube (42 b) by way of the bowl refill line (42 a) which is a hose that goes from the float valve (50 b) into the over flow tube. This allows the flow of water while the main water control valve (48 a) is on and also allows the tank refill to flow—both flowing are running because the float valve (50 b) is set to a continuous “on” position via a set screw on top of the float valve or the float ball (50) is unscrewed and a weighted device (50 d) is placed hanging from the long float rod (52 e) like a bag of coins. This will cause the water to flow in to the bowl area by way of the over flow tube when the main line is on. Helpful but not necessary would be a restrictor rod (FIG. 9) can be made of wire (58) to hang in the over flow tube to partly block the vent that is at the bottom of the tube to help the running water hold off any air rush caused by the air flush.

A more elaborate way to help the water run into the over flow tube during the air flush would be a one-way valve (FIG. 9 c) by using a flap valve (42 c) to go inside the over flow tube (42 b) and this valve will closes when air pressure is introduced in the bowl area during air flushing. The air pressure will push this flap up (42 d) up against its cover (42 e) because this cover has holes in it well let the water into the over flow tube (42 b) because when there is no air flush the flap will be in a open position to let water from the fill hose (42 a) and water that is in the tank. The flap (42 d) is made of thin plastic like the type milk bottles are made of and this plastic is cut into the shape of a circle a bit smaller then the inner diameter of the over flow tube (42 b) and it will have a flange protruding that will be folded over the outside of the cover (42 e) flap valve and the valve will be counter sunk in to the over flow tube so that the bowl refill hose will still be able to going to the over flow tube much the same way it did be for the valve was put in. This will let water go into the bowl area from the over flow tube when the hose from the water filler outlet (52 a) is on and water is over flowing and can still go through the over flow tube as to clean the bowl when the main water line is on. The turning on of the main water can either be automatic or set in motion by the hand valve that is on the water line going to the toilet.

In all three of these lid models (24,26,30) the option of using line water to help clean the walls of the toilet during air flushing can be done by a couple of different ways. In all of cases water will need a special bowl water line (48) to send water into the bowl water flush hole (40). This done by having the main water line valve (48) always on power by a 12 volt transformer rectifier (48 c) the water line as well as the 12 power is connected to anti-siphon water control solenoid valve (48 a) that is activated by a timer (48 b) that will send water through toilet water in line (48 d) to the bowl area during the air flush this predetermined amount of water will run long enough to the refill bowl area for the next usage. The float valve (50 b) is set now to be always on The water control valve (48 a) will be switched on either manually when there are no automatic components by just turning on the main water valve (48) before air flushing and tuning it off after the bowl area has been refilled. Or this can be done automatically with the use of the aforementioned power units by pressing a button (48 f) which is handedly mounted on the toilet preferably the near or on former water flush handle (52 f) location and is pressed right before activation the air pressure device.

More intrusive way to air flush (FIG. 5) will still use a similar seat and lid unit with gaskets but in this case there is no mounted or vented through the seat lid. In these modifications the major change is in the tank section (38 b) of the toilet where the compressed air will be injected by way of the tank section, which has a ventilation hole (40 a). This vent hole is where the flapper (52) sits and lets the water flow to the bowl during a water flush. Now with some modification this vent will be the way compressed air is injected into the bowl area. This venting air from the tank is done by the use of a airtight fit a 14-inch length of tubing (44) plugged into the water flush intake coupling (42) which has a socket where the now unused flapper (52) was located. This tube (44) will block the vent that connected internally the over flow tube (42 b) to the coupling (42). This and bowl-coupling (42) is used to connect the toilet's bowl section (38 a) to the tank section (38 b) and also vent these to section of the toilet by of way of aligned the holes (40) passing between them. As the internal float valve unit (50 b) is not used it can be taken out and the water line can come in through a its former hole.

And clean water can be add to the air flush by having tube (44) connected to the and controlled by a water dispenser switch (48 a) Water can then be dispensed in a predetermined flow at a controlled rate and time. Therefore, all the water dispensing devices that is, the flow valve, the overflow tube and the flapper are now rendered useless.

The vent coupling (42), which has a two-inch inner diameter hold, will have inserted into it tubing measuring 5 inches long with a slightly less then a two inch outer diameter so it can be put inside the flapper socket of the coupling. This tube (58) will be sealing plug (58) on there would also be a fitting to connect the water line (48 b) to this tube to run water into the bowl area when the water line is on.

Then the vent coupling (42); which has a two-inch inner diameter hold, will have inserted into it tubing measuring 14-inch long and slightly less then a two inch outer diameter (44). The tubing has on its both ends sealing gaskets (44 a) for the air pressure device (22). A new tank cover (38 c) is needed to gain access to the vent tube (44) by the air pressure device.

There are many ways to make the compressed air burst the is needed to air flush the toilet a good first embodiment is a bellows as their construction goes back dating to the Bronze Age. The construction of the bellows (24) is show in (FIG. 7B) but better there is even a far better way to mass produce them with a plastic similar to PVC that can be used to make the disks and even the Or, the plastic similar to PVC can be used to make the disks and even toilet lid and the gaskets so that the entire unit will be one kind of fused assembly. Optional is a hole (56) in the top disks for a one way valve (56 a an 56 b) that will let air in on the up stroke and seal off the air form the bowl from getting into the air pressure device however this will result in the lose of the ability for unit to suck unless a valve is used that has a open lock that is why they are optional as by lifting the unit on the up stroke will make for a manual valve so the bellows can have the suction it will need if it were to be used as a plunger. Also optional is a bottom valve (56 c and 56 d) to cover the vent hole (36) both these valve are made up of a screen that is covered by material that has slits to let the air pass free direction but which will close when up against the screen direction these valves will help to keep bad air out bellows.

Either way once the bellows is connected it is set in a halfway up position and then the lid is held down making the toilet airtight. To air flush first pull up on 26 the handle of the bellows to suck up the water in the trap into the bowl area then when getting the bellows to the top expanded position immediately push down the bellows till it is flat this will maneuver clear the trap and second push out all the waste that was in the toilet easily as there will be no resistance from water in trap. The air will be a predetermine amount to flush the toilet with air into 46 the discharge pipe. This sucking ability of the bellows makes it possible to use it for a dry plunger by just going up and down on the handle will free the trap area from an overload of paper or the like. And by judging the force it take to push down the bellows it will give an idea of how clear the deeper swear pipe's condition is.

Other air pressure device which are favorable because they can reversible meaning they can suck as well as blow air are 66 square bellows which can be made with easy to get materials cut into layers and taped together, 68 piston pump which is constructed with a metal cylindrical container like a pretzel can, the bottom of which has the 60 ventilation hole in it that goes through to the bowl area and the cover (68) has holes in it, one hole is for a piston rod and three others for breathing. The piston rod goes through the cylinder cover and is connected with a strong 68 f screw to a layer of materials making up 68 b a piston 68 c,d,e, made with to disks with ring material sandwiched between them. Another kind of powerful plunging type of device is the 70 diaphram having a outer drum 70 a where in it is a disk 70 b with a handle on it that has connected to it a 70 c rubbery martial which is airtight connected to the toilet lid by going under the drum, Another and type of air supply device which can not suck but will air flush a toilet is 72 old fashion bellows and another way is to make 74 the seat and lid into a bellows

The next air pressure devices use electrical power 76 is a power centripetal force blower it is shown here with the low voltage switch 80 and the 106 transformer box relay but it will work will with the switch on the blower 67 which is a power centripetal force blower. A special 88 push button power switch is introduced that will be activated by pushing down on it and as it will be on the lid this pushing will also hold the lid airtight. The button will turn on 106 the timer box that will send high voltage to the 100 air pressure device which will pressurize 102 the air booster unit which can store compressed air till it reaches its capacity which will then trigger 104 the pressure release unit which is connected by way of the 96 coupling to connect the toilet's lid with the air pressure device this coupling will making a right angle 90 degree angle so the lid and coupling will be flat so the lid can be put in the up position and still remain connected to 98 low pressure vacuum cleaner hose or the like.

There are many ways to have one air pressure device service multiples toilets one is a 108 distributor which is a mechanical way of having multiple toilets being supplied by one air device 108 a is a stepping motor or a manual ratchet to control which toilet has just pressed the button 108 b is the rotor with vent pipe inside 108 c is the coupling to the air supply. The 104 pressure sensitive relay box which releases the air when the pressure is sufficient 110 elastic or even metallic spring to control air pressure, 112 tee fitting 102 booster and a pressure control box 106 power timer and switch relay box, 106 a transformer 110 vac to 24 vac and 106 b timer for air flush duration and 106 c relay for lid press switch 114 air compressor 116 high pressure line 118 high pressurized Air supply tank 120 multiple toilet manifold 124 regulator to bring down high pressure to booster amount 128 butterfly or door valve having high volume low pressure relay which sends the air to the toilet by releasing valve trigger for butterfly or door valve.

Water Gathering Device

FIG.17 Shower Aqueduct which goes over the shower heard 136 is the shower water control. 134 showerhead, 142 wash bucket or bottle. 140 is the hose, 138 is the flexible plastic funnel with elastic shower cap band FIG.18 Is a close view of the submergible primer pump which is a primer pump to claim sink water FIG. 19A water saver for kitten sink top view of the water claim system showing the submergible primer pump 146 Is the bend in the handle going to the submergible primer pump. 148 Is the submergible primer pump. 150 is the base of the pump with the base intake holes 152 is the shelf where the valve is mounted is the valve intake hole and the flap valve with the connecting rivets 154 Is the sink, 156 water line FIG. 19A top view of kitchen sink 

1. I claim an air flush system and apparatus that enables a toilet to be flushed with air comprising a. of a standard toilet which contains enough water in it to seal its trap and surround a waste soiling b. a lid that closes over the bowl portion of said toilet that can be held to make the bowl area airtight c. an air compression device connected to said airtight lid and vented into said airtight bowl area thereby air can be injected into said airtight toilet so the contents will be flushed with air into a waste discharge pipe.
 2. various methods to allow water to be add to the bowl area during the aforementioned air flushing procedure
 3. the air pressure device as claimed in claim 1 which is revisable so it can suck as well as blow, thereby: a. said system can function as an air plunger to open clogs from said trap and discharge pipe b. a gauge can be added to the lid to measure the air pressure thereby the flow condition of the trap and discharge pipe can be noted
 4. The air flush system in claim 1 can also be used with a site toilet which is toilet outhouse type toilet especially made for the air flush system including in said site toilet: a. a molded inner liner of a seat section and bowl area of a toilet. Said site toilets will be light weight and stack one inside the other and be made of durable material that can me modified to have a vent pipe hole with pipe installed so air can be injected through it; similarly, a toilet that is not hooked up to a water supply can have an air pressure cupping attached to where the water supply hole was b. a trap section which can connect to said site toilet which well only make one right angle there by its discharge fitting can come out the back or side then said site toilet is reinforced with building materials as to make said site toilet able to be sat on c. a flexible coupling to connect the trap discharge fitting to a swear pipe thereby enabling an angle of decline of said pipe and the opportunity to be able to change said pipe's direction d. a swear pipe in length to reach a cesspool or connect to a swear discharge line as said pipe will be connected to the toilet with a flexible coupling thereby the direction the site toilet has the pipe coming out and the flex coupling the cesspool location can be changed by swinging the pipe in an arc.
 5. As is claimed in claim 1 that can save water by using water gathered by air flush system devices as said water will directly added into the toilet bowl area therein said water dose not need clean so it can be gathered by a. a shower device called the shower aqueduct that will cover the showerhead and hose the water into a wash bucket. Then you can run the hot water until it becomes warm and then disconnect the aqueduct and take an immediate hot shower. This used water will be perfect for doing some wash and then used to ready the air flush toilet as stated in claim 1 trap water b. Water can be retrieved from the kitchen sink via the use of an air flush siphoning system that will get the sink water into a water bucket. 